Bandaging means

ABSTRACT

A bandaging means for retaining dressings in place comprises a tubular fabric of special open mesh structure. Row of chain stitches made from non-elastic yarn extend in axial direction of the fabric, and elastic yarns are each arranged in reciprocating fashion between two successive rows of chain stitches and linked therewith so as to form between those two rows of chain stitches, on tensioning of the fabric, a line of trapeziums alternately inverted in relation to each other. The two parallel sides of each trapezium are formed by the rows of chain stitches and the other two sides are formed by the elastic yarn.

United States Patent Klatte [451 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] BANDAGING MEANS2,277,766 3 1942 Klumpp ..66 172 E 2,238,353 4 1941 Weintraub et al....

[76] Invent 9 2,144,667 1/1939 Stein ..66/192 Laren, Netherlands 1 [22]Filed: Nov. 17, 1970 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant'ExaminerJ. Yasko [21] Appl' 90372 Attorney-Snyder and Butrum [30]Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Nov.20, 1969 GreatBritain ..56,829/69 A bandaging means for retaining dressings in placecomprises a tubular fabric of special open mesh struc- [52] US. Cl..128/171, 128/157 ture. Row of chain stitches made from non-elastic[51] Int. Cl. ..Afilf 13/00 yarn extend in axial direction of thefabric, and elastic Field seill'ch yarns are each arranged inreciprocating fashion 172 between two successive rows of chain stitchesand linked therewith so as to form between those two rows ReielencesCit"! of chain stitches, on tensioning of the fabric, a line oftrapeziums alternately inverted in relation to each UNITED STATESPATENTS other. The two parallel sides of each trapezium are 3,307,5463/1967 Cherio et a1 ..128/157 formed by the rows of chain stitches andthe other two 2,411,175 11/1946 Wagler ..66/193 sides are formed by theelastic yarn. 3,570,482 3/1971 Emoto ...l28/l56 3,279,465 10/1966 Cherioet a1 ..128/171 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BANDAGING MEANS Thisinvention relates to bandaging means for retaining dressings in place,said means comprising a tubular fabric having an improved and veryadvantageous open mesh structure.

It has been common practice to keep medical dressings such as gauzes inplace by means of long bands but such bands are often difficult to applyand may also be tiresome and irritating to the wearer because in mostcases they are fastened either too loose or too tight.

Recently, there has been disclosed a bandaging means adapted to overcomethe disadvantages of the aforesaid bands. Such bandaging means comprisesa tubular fabric which may have the form of a garment such as a vest orshorts and which is characterized by an open mesh structure whichrenders it elastically stretchable. This mesh structure comprises a setof nonelastic yarns extending in axial direction of the fabric and a setof elastic yarns each arranged in zig-zag fashion between two successivenon-elastic yarns and linked therewith. The linkage is such that, ontensioning of the fabric a line of alternately inverted triangles isformed of which the non-elastic yarns form the bases and the elasticyarns form the two other sides. This bandaging means may easily beapplied to the human body thanks to its stretchability and may be wornwithout many troubles as a result of its open mesh structure whilst itwill retain medical dressings in place. There is, however, a certaintendency for this bandaging means to ride up or slip off during use whenworn on body parts normally subject to repeated bending and stretchingmovements.

It has now been found that the aforesaid bandaging means may be improvedby selecting an open mesh structure of different construction. If thenon-elastic yarns are formed as rows of chain stitches and if theelastic yarns are linked therewith in such a way that they constitute,on tensioning of the fabric, a line of trapeziums in stead of triangles,it appears that the stretchability of the tubular fabric in radialdirection is considerably increased and that the number of nonelasticyarns in a fabric of given size may be reduced substantially if the samestretchability-as before has to be obtained. Thus, for example, atubular fabric of the new mesh structure comprising 48 rows of chainstitches has the same stretchability in radial direction as a tubularfabric of known construction comprising 68 non-elastic yarns. This meansthat less material is required for obtaining the same stretchability sothat savings in price and a better porosity of the fabric are reached.Moreover, it appears that the stretchability of the fabric in axialdirection is also increased and that, as a result thereof, the tendencyof the fabric to ride up or slip off has substantially been eliminated.

The invention has for its object to provide bandaging means forretaining dressings in place, said bandaging means comprising a tubularfabric of improved open mesh structure.

This and other objects are reached by the invention which providesbandaging means for retaining dressings in place, comprising a tubularfabric of open mesh structure, said fabric comprising a set of rows ofchain stitches made from non-elastic yarn extending in axial directionof the fabric, and a set of elastic yarns each arranged in reciprocatingfashion between two successive rows of chain stitches and linkedtherewith so as to form between said two rows of chain stitches, whenthe fabric is tensioned, a line of trapeziums alternately inverted inrelation to each other, the two parallel sides of each trapezium beingformed by the rows of chain stitches and the two other sides beingformed by the elastic yarn.

Preferably, the form of the trapeziums is such that each of themapproaches a rectangle when the fabric is tensioned. This may, e.g., bereached by giving the basis of each trapezium only a length of fivechain stitches when the upper side thereof has a length of three suchstitches. It results in maximum stretchability of the fabric withoutloss of structural strength and coherence. Further, the stitches of thethus formed fabric of the invention has less possibility to run than inthe known construction due to better fixation through the elastic yarns.

The bandaging means according to the invention may be manufactured inseveral sizes dependent from its use. Incisions in the tubular fabricmay be made just prior to utilization in order to adapt it to thespecial form of a body part to which it has to be applied. Thus, a pairof incisions near one end of a tubular fabric of rather wide size maymake it appropriate to function as a vest when worn; other adaptationsmay easily be found by the user.

The invention is illustrated by the drawing which shows an embodimentthereof by way of example.

FIG. 1 shows a bandaging means of the invention in free, unstretchedform.

FIG. 2 shows the bandaging means of FIG. 1 after stretching and applyingto part of a human arm.

FIG. 3 shows the open mesh structure of the fabric used in the bandagingmeans of FIGS. 1 and 2 on a larger scale.

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the structure of FIG. 3 on a still largerscale.

The bandaging means of FIG. 1 comprises a tubular fabric 1 of given sizeand length which is shown in flat, unstretched form. Prior to use, apiece 2 of shorter length may be cut thereof for applying to a part ofthe human body, if not the whole length is required.

In FIG. 2, the piece of fabric 2 has been stretched and applied to partof a human arm 3 in order to retain a gauze 4 in place. This stretchingand applying has caused no troubles thanks to a special open meshstructure of the fabric which has now become clearly visible in FIG. 2and is shown on a larger scale in FIG. 3. Like apparent from thesefigures, the open mesh structure is formed by parallel rows 5 of chainstitches made from non-elastic yarns extending in axial direction of thefabric and by a set of elastic yarns 6 linked therewith. Each elasticyarn 6 is arranged in reciprocating fashion between two successive rows5 of chain stitches and is linked therewith in such a way that (intensioned state of the fabric) a line 7 of trapeziums is formed. Thewhole fabric accordingly comprises a plurality of such lines 7 eachextending in axial direction of the fabric. The trapeziums in each line7 have their bases alternately formed by one and by the other of the twoboundary rows 5 of chain stitches so that they are alternately invertedto each other.

This special open mesh structure on the basis of nonelastic and elasticyarns will render the tubular fabric 2 highly stretchable so that it maybe stretched with ease on both hands of the applier who extends it somuch that it can easily be brought over the limbs (head, knee, etc.) ofthe patient and applied thereto. Yet this stretchability is elastic sothat the fabric will follow the contours of a body part after beingapplied to it and will retain any dressings firmly in place withoutmoving, this fabric neither riding up nor slipping off. In comparisonwith a similar fabric having a mesh structure of open triangles formedby elastic and non-elastic yarns, it will have a higher elasticstretchability in radial direction (amounting in some cases to 25percent or 32 percent increase) and/or a smaller number of non-elasticyarns (rows of chain stitches) per unstretched unit of radial width.Further, the fabric of FIGS. 1-3 will also have a higher elasticstretchability in axial direction (amounting in some cases to 37 percentor 42 percent increase which is responsible for the non-riding upcharacteristic.

It will be apparent from FIG. 3 that the trapeziums in the embodimentshown will approach rectangles in form when the fabric is tensioned. Theway in which such trapezium forms are obtained may be seen in FIG. 4which gives a detail of the fabric of FIG. 3 on a still larger'scale.Like shown in FIG. 4, an elastic yarn 6 is reciprocating between tworows 5,5 of chain stitches and linked therewith in such a way that thebasis of each resulting trapezium has a length of five chain stitcheswhilst the upper side thereof has a length of three chain stitches.Another elastic yarn 6' is reciprocating between the rows ,5" of chainstitches and linked therewith in quite the same way. Such a fabric,wherein the trapeziums on tensioning approach rectangles, will haveoptimum elastic stretchability in radial direction because thenon-parallel sides of the trapeziums will approximately extend in radialdirection of the fabric whereas the sides of the triangles in the knownconstruction clearly extend obliquely thereto. Further, such a fabricwill also have optimum elastic stretchability in axial direction becauseit can be seen from the middle row 5' of FIG. 4 that elastic yarn ispresent in every stitch of a row of chain stitches therein.Nevertheless, the fabric will retain its structural strength andcoherence due to the linkage between elastic and non-elastic yarns.

The fabric according to the invention may be manufactured on a knittingmachine by using non-elastic yarns as warp yarns for forming rows ofchain stitches and by using elastic yarns as weft yarns for making thespecial open mesh structure of the invention. The nonelastic yarns maybe made of cotton or the like and the elastic yarns may be of rubber orsynthetic elastomers and may be bare or covered.

Comparative measurements were made on bandaging means of the inventionand bandaging means of the prior art in which the fabric has an openmesh structure of triangles. For several sizes of both types of fabric,the unstretched flat width, the maximum radial stretch and the number ofnon-elastic yams (rows of chain stitches) in each fabric were measuredand compared. The results are listed in Table 1 wherein each column Acomprises the values for a triangled mesh structure and each column Bgives the values for an open mesh structure of alternately invertedtrapeziums according to the invention.

TABLE 1 Size no. Unstretched Maximum Number of nonflat width radialstretch elastic yarns A B A B BA A B O 0 6 8 9.57 6 6 l l 20 I2 2 l 2 ll 8 l0 3 3 27 20 33.533 26 18 5 5 36 28 4636 34 26 6 6 66 55 7871.5 6848 It appears from this table that with comparable size numbers, theinvented bandaging means has a higher elastic stretchability in radialdirection and/or a smaller number of non-elastic yarns per unstretchedunit of radial width.

Further comparative measurements were made to determine thestretchability in axial direction of both types of bandaging means. Forseveral sizes of both types, the unstretched length and maximumstretched length of a piece of fabric were measured and compared. Theresults are listed in Table 2, wherein each column A again comprises thevalues for a triangled mesh structure and each column B gives the valuesfor an open mesh structure of alternately inverted trapeziums accordingto the invention.

TABLE 2 Size no. Unstretched length Maximum stretched length A B A B A BO 0 I0 l0 I9 27 1 1 l0 10 19 26 3 3 l0 l0 I9 26 5 5 I0 l0 17 26 6 6 l0l0 I8 25 It appears from this table that, with comparable size numbers,the invented bandage means also has a higher elastic stretchability inaxial direction than the bandaging means of the prior art. This willresult in a substantial elimination of the tendency of the fabric toride up or slip off when worn upon a body part (e.g., an arm or knee)that is normally subject to repeated bending and stretching movementsduring use.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the tubular fabricof the invention may be manufactured in several sizes and severallengths, dependent from the users demand. Should it be necessary toapply the fabric to special body parts like a head, the upper part of atrunk etc. then incisions may be made by the user to adapt the fabric tothe special form of the body parts.

It will further be apparent that the invention is not limited to theembodiment as shown but that any other embodiments are possible withinthe scope of the invention.

The bandaging means of the invention have the advantage that they willretain dressings in place, yet allowing free movement of the wearerslimbs and that, in the case of less radial rows of non-elastic yams,they are more porous than the bandaging means of known construction.They are easier to apply because of better radial stretchability, andwill neither ride up nor slip off because of better axialstretchability, whilst savings in material may be reached in relation tothe known bandages.

What I claim is:

1. Bandaging means for retaining dressings in place, comprising atubular fabric of open mesh structure, said fabric comprising a set ofrows of chain stitches made from non-elastic yarn and extending in axialdirection of the fabric, and a set of elastic yarns each arranged inreciprocating fashion between two successive rows of chain stitches andlinked therewith so as to form between those two rows of chain stitches,when the fabric is tensioned, a line of trapezoids alternately invertedin relation to each other, the two parallel sides of each trapezoidbeing formed by said rows of chain stitches in which the number of loopsin one row is greater by at least two than the number of loops in thesecond row and the other two sides being formed by said elastic yarn.

2. Bandaging means as claimed in claim 1, in which the form of saidtrapezoids is such that each of them approaches a rectangle when thefabric is tensioned.

3. Bandaging means as claimed in claim 1, in which the basis of eachtrapezoid has a length of about five chain stitches and the upper sidethereof has a length of about three chain stitches.

4. A tubular bandage adapted to fit over a portion of the wearers bodyto hold a dressing in place, said bandage comprising in combination:

an elongate tubular body capable of axial as well as radial stretching,said body being defined by a series of circumferentially spaced andgenerally parallel rows of stitching extending from one end of the bodyto the other, and an elastic yarn linking each adjacent pair of saidrows of stitching;

each row of stitching being formed of an inelastic yarn definingsuccessive chain stitch loops in which the loops in all of the rows areof substantially the same size;

each of said elastic yarns being connected between the two rows ofstitching with which it is associated through axially spaced firstgroups of the chain stitch loops in each of such two rows, said firstgroups being axially spaced to define second groups of chain stitchloops in which the number of loops in each second group is greater by atleast two than the number of loops in each first group, and the elasticyarns connecting said two rows to the next adjacent rows being connectedthrough first groups of chain stitch loops which lie within therespective second groups of said two rows.

5. A tubular bandage as defined in claim 4 wherein there are three chainstitch loops in each first group and five chain stitch loops in eachsecond group.

1. Bandaging means for retaining dressings in place, comprising atubular fabric of open mesh structure, said fabric comprising a set ofrows of chain stitches made from non-elastic yarn and extending in axialdirection of the fabric, and a set of elastic yarns each arranged inreciprocating fashion between two successive rows of chain stitches andlinked therewith so as to form between those two rows of chain stitches,when the fabric is tensioned, a line of trapezoids alternately invertedin relation to each other, the two parallel sides of each trapezoidbeing formed by said rows of chain stitches in which the number of loopsin one row is greater by at least two than the number of loops in thesecond row and the other two sides being formed by said elastic yarn. 2.Bandaging means as claimed in claim 1, in which the form of saidtrapezoids is such that each of them approaches a rectangle when thefabric is tensioned.
 3. Bandaging means as claimed in claim 1, in whichthe basis of each trapezoid has a length of about five chain stitchesand the upper side thereof has a length of about three chain stitches.4. A tubular bandage adapted to fit over a portion of the weareR''s bodyto hold a dressing in place, said bandage comprising in combination: anelongate tubular body capable of axial as well as radial stretching,said body being defined by a series of circumferentially spaced andgenerally parallel rows of stitching extending from one end of the bodyto the other, and an elastic yarn linking each adjacent pair of saidrows of stitching; each row of stitching being formed of an inelasticyarn defining successive chain stitch loops in which the loops in all ofthe rows are of substantially the same size; each of said elastic yarnsbeing connected between the two rows of stitching with which it isassociated through axially spaced first groups of the chain stitch loopsin each of such two rows, said first groups being axially spaced todefine second groups of chain stitch loops in which the number of loopsin each second group is greater by at least two than the number of loopsin each first group, and the elastic yarns connecting said two rows tothe next adjacent rows being connected through first groups of chainstitch loops which lie within the respective second groups of said tworows.
 5. A tubular bandage as defined in claim 4 wherein there are threechain stitch loops in each first group and five chain stitch loops ineach second group.